How to create CMS collections on Webflow

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

CMS collections in Webflow allow you to create dynamic content structures for blogs, portfolios, or product catalogs. You can create collections through the CMS panel, define custom fields, and connect them to your site design.

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Prerequisites

Active Webflow account
Basic understanding of Webflow Designer
CMS plan or higher subscription

Step-by-Step Instructions

Access the CMS Collections panel

In your Webflow project, click on the CMS Collections icon in the left sidebar (database icon) or press C on your keyboard. This opens the Collections panel where you can manage all your CMS collections.

You can also access CMS Collections from the top navigation by clicking the CMS tab.

Create a new collection

Click the + New Collection button in the CMS panel. Enter a name for your collection (e.g., 'Blog Posts', 'Products', 'Team Members'). The collection name will automatically generate a slug for URLs. Click Create Collection to proceed.

Use descriptive, singular names for collections as Webflow will automatically pluralize them where needed.

Configure collection settings

In the collection settings panel, configure:

Collection name and slug
Collection description (optional but recommended)
Collection icon from the available options

The slug will be used in your site's URL structure, so choose something SEO-friendly.

Keep collection slugs short and descriptive as they become part of your site's URL structure.

Add and customize fields

Click + Add Field to create custom fields for your collection. Choose from field types like:

Plain Text for titles or short descriptions
Rich Text for formatted content
Image for photos
Date/Time for publish dates
Link for external URLs

Configure each field's name, help text, and validation settings.

Every collection automatically includes a Name field and Slug field - you can't delete these as they're required.

Set field properties and validation

For each field, configure:

Field name and help text
Required field checkbox if mandatory
Validation rules (character limits, formatting)
Default values where applicable

Click Save Field after configuring each field.

Use help text to guide content creators on what information should go in each field.

Create your first collection item

Click + New [Collection Name] to create your first item. Fill in all the fields you've defined, including:

Name (required)
Slug (auto-generated but editable)
All custom fields you created

Click Save to publish the item or Save as Draft to save without publishing.

Create a few sample items to test your collection structure before building your design around it.

Connect collection to your design

Go to your Designer and add a Collection List element where you want to display your CMS content. Select your collection from the dropdown in the Collection List settings panel. Add Collection Items within the list and bind dynamic content by selecting elements and choosing fields from the Get data from [Collection Name] panel.

You can create collection templates by designing how individual collection items should look on their detail pages.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Can't create collections - greyed out option

Ensure you have a CMS plan or higher. Free plans don't include CMS functionality. Upgrade your plan in your Account Dashboard > Billing.

Collection items not appearing on published site

Make sure collection items are published (not saved as drafts) and that your site has been republished after adding CMS content. Check the item status in the CMS panel.

Unable to delete or modify fields after creation

Fields with existing data cannot be deleted directly. First, remove all data from the field across all collection items, then you can delete the field. Use Bulk Edit to clear multiple items quickly.

Collection List showing 'No items found'

Check that your Collection List element is properly connected to the right collection in the settings panel, and verify that you have published collection items with content in the required fields.

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